Scott taps his former campaign manager to be his link to lawmakers

Acknowledging the importance of good legislative relations, Gov.-elect Rick Scott announced Friday that he will meet with every member of the legislature, and ever member of Congress, before he is inaugurated and appointed his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, to lead the effort.

“The relationship between the Executive Office of the Governor and the Legislature is critical, and nobody is more trusted for this task than the person who guided my campaign to two victories,” Scott said in a statement.

Wiles was formerly chief of staff to former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney. She once worked in the executive off of President Ronald Reagan, the U.S. House of Representatives and has served on two presidential campaigns.

Still unknown is whether Scott will continue to rely on Wiles, who has a limited reputation among lawmakers outside of Jacksonville, as his crucial contact with lawmakers once he's in office. Veterans of the process are encouraging Scott to tap someone who has worked intimitately with the legislature in the past to establish trust and get the still relatively-little known governor the audience he needs to pursue his agenda.